Timothy Gilsbach was quoted in the Special Ed Connection article "Instruct Staff to Relay Parent Concerns to Supervisor." While the full text can be found in the January 17, 2014, issue of Special Ed Connection, a synopsis is noted below.
If a parent shares concerns with a teacher or service provider, that individual should not keep those concerns to themselves.
Rather, they should relay them to the Section 504 coordinator or special education director, said Gilsbach. "That person can then decide the appropriate next steps," he said.
As you encourage teachers, service providers and support staff to pass information along to an administrator, be careful about passing information down the chain of command. "Letting staff know that a parent is upset about something and is considering filing a complaint can create unnecessary hostility," said Gilsbach.
Obviously, if a parent has a concern about a specific teacher or class, you will need to talk to that teacher to get her input, said Gilsbach. However, be careful about how you present the parent's concern.
"Don't make it feel like a personal attack," Gilsbach said.
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